Amneh Ataya 9/4/26 Amneh Ataya 9/4/26

Unforgiven and Unforeseen: The Gaps in Gene Hackman's Estate Plan

When Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe home in February 2025, the loss of a two-time Oscar winner and Hollywood legend was shocking enough on its own. But in the months since, the story has taken on a second life as a cautionary tale-one that estate planning attorneys keep coming back to, more than a year later, because Hackman's estate still hasn't been fully settled.

Amneh Ataya 8/28/26 Amneh Ataya 8/28/26

As If! Why You Can't Skip the Fine Print on Your Trust

When actress Brittany Murphy passed away in December 2009 at just 32 years old, her death sparked years of public speculation- not only about the circumstances surrounding it, but also about what happened to her estate afterward. More than a decade later, her case remains a widely cited cautionary tale in estate planning circles.

Amneh Ataya 8/21/26 Amneh Ataya 8/21/26

Balancing the Ledger... Poorly: Heath's Estate Planning Lesson

Heath Ledger's will was drafted years before his daughter Matilda was born and was never updated to include her, so under its literal terms his estate went to his parents and sisters rather than to her directly.

Amneh Ataya 8/14/26 Amneh Ataya 8/14/26

R-E-S-P-E-C-T THE PROCESS

Aretha Franklin died without a formal, valid estate plan in place; resulting in a 5-year long legal battle which locked her multi-million dollar estate in probate court.

Amneh Ataya 8/7/26 Amneh Ataya 8/7/26

When Doves Cry (and Lawyers Get Rich): Prince's Missing Will

Prince died without a will. What followed was a 6-year legal battle over a $156 million estate- heirs fighting the IRS, each other, and a parade of people claiming to be his rightful family.

No plan doesn't mean no consequences. It means someone else (a court, a stranger, state law) makes the decisions for you.

Amneh Ataya 7/24/26 Amneh Ataya 7/24/26

the age of digital estate planning

A list of passwords is no longer enough after a death. Two-factor authentication has changed digital estate planning. Here is what families need now.

Amneh Ataya 7/17/26 Amneh Ataya 7/17/26

What Happens to Debt When You Die?

If your family has never had a real conversation about what debt exists, how accounts are titled, or what would happen in the days after a death, now is the moment to change that. Understanding which assets and debts exist, and knowing what debts are the estate’s responsibility will help your loved ones navigate the next steps when you are gone.